ABERDEEN CITADEL SALVATION ARMY
SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2020
LIST OF NAMES Captain Callum Newton
This week has seen Emma and I continuing to gain new experiences of Aberdeen and what it means to be the officers here at The Citadel. I have had my first trip to the crematorium at Baldarrock to lead the funeral of a lady who has had a connection to The Salvation Army for over 100 years. I’m preparing to pay my second visit to the Aberdeen Crematorium next week to conduct another funeral. On a happier note, we were delighted to make contact with staff at Hanover Street School and look forward to continuing the established good relationship between the school and the corps here. We have also been in conversations with the City Council about their plans for some online content in lieu of the fact that the usual annual Christmas tree lighting service will not be able to take place this year due to the Coronavirus restrictions. Similar plans are being formed by the Aberdeen Churches ‘A Thought From the Word’ -Page 3Captain Emma Newton reminds us to take time to listen to God using the story of Samuel. “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” 1 Samuel 3:9
Together to create an online advent calendar with a short video contribution from various churches including The Salvation Army. The building works continue to be tricky with a few new plans having to be formed to repair damaged rainwater goods. The nature of having a historic building such as ours means that there are problems that come with wear and tear over the years, and repairing them becomes more difficult as we have to consult with the Planning Department of the council due to the building being listed. Nonetheless, the architect, builders and The Salvation Army’s properties department are in continuing conversation with us to ensure we get the best outcome to make sure we don’t have water continuing to damage the fabric of the building or have the situation that we …Continued Page 2.
‘Annoncements’
‘Music Box’
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- Page 7 Bandmaster John Still relives some old-style testimony meetings with Ballantine song selection and arrnagement ‘Since Jesus’.
Please take the chance to catch up with any announcements and also with any dates for the diary in the ‘Upcoming Events’ on Page 5.
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THE SALVATION ARMY
ABERDEEN CITADEL Serving God & Aberdeen For Over 140 Years 28 Castle Street Aberdeen AB11 5BG 01224 579 370
aberdeen.citadel@salvationarmy.org.uk
@aberdeencitadel Commanding Officers Captains Callum & Emma Newton callum.newton@salvationarmy.org.uk emma.newton@salvationarmy.org.uk
Part of the North Scotland Division and the United Kingdom with the Republic of Ireland Territory. Called to be disciples of Jesus Christ, The Salvation Army United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland exists to save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we will be a Spiritfilled, radical, growing movement, with a burning desire to lead people into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, actively serve the community, and fight for social justice. Divisional Commander (North Scotland): Major Gillian Jackson Territorial Commander (UKI): Commissioner Anthony Cotterill The General: General Brian Peddle
LIST OF NAMES CONTINUED FROM FRONT faced a couple of months ago when the water flooded through the building from the top floor to the ground floor. One of the other tasks I have been involved in this week is to take part in a recording of a video that will be put online in place of the usual annual Dignity memorial service held at The Citadel. After conversations with City Chaplain Ron Flett and Gordon & Watson Funeral Directors, we were able to come up with a plan to record a short video at Gordon & Watson who after editing will make the video service available to their clients. It is planned that they will include a video of Aberdeen Citadel Songsters singing ‘Under His Wings’ with the International Staff Songsters as part of the service to ensure The Salvation Army is playing as full a role as ever in the service. A usual part of the service, I’m told, is for the names of those who have died in the previous year to be read out in a memorial roll by Ron and the officer. This will be done this year by members of Gordon & Watson staff and included in the video. It is an important part of the service that the names of loved ones are read out loud in order that they are recognised as a life that made a difference to people on earth. This week also saw Armistice Day marked on the 11th across the nation, albeit rather differently to normal. Across the country, people gathered round and laid wreaths at lists of names. Names of people who had left their homes and not returned as they fought for a better future for us. A list of names hangs on the wall outside our worship hall. It commemorates in ‘grateful remembrance’ the people from our own Aberdeen Citadel Corps who ‘laid down their lives for truth and freedom’. We took the time to lay a poppy wreath there and remember them. This list of names should not be a wall decoration for us, but a way to recognise the life these people had lived and lost which made a difference to the lives we now have. As we remembered, we prayed. I always pray that the long lists of names around the country, need never be that long
again in the cause of freedom and truth. Our memorial declares on the bottom ‘Their name liveth for evermore’, but more than that we rejoice that as disciples of Jesus Christ their souls can live for evermore in the blessed and peaceful presence of God himself. I have always loved the words in the Songbook of General Albert Orsborn (SASB 79) that say: Let nothing draw me back Or turn my heart from Thee, But by the Calvary track Bring me at last to see The courts of God, that city fair, And find my name is written there. If my name is to be written on a list anywhere, I hope to find my name written there with the ransomed in Glory. Will you join me on the calvary track, following Jesus and his calling on our lives until we reach that city fair.
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A Thought From the Word
ARE YOU LISTENING? CAPTAIN EMMA NEWTON Hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. If you are not hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences. Every day we are barraged with noise; traffic, conversations, bird song, the wind, breaking news. Hearing tells you that, for example, music is playing, but listening tells you what the song is saying. There are times that we hear but we forget to listen. I wonder what you choose to listen to?
I wonder how many times God has called us, has spoken to us, and we’ve not recognised that it’s Him. How often have we been aware of God’s prompting, and not realised it was Him? The first thing we need to do is wake up and become aware of God’s presence as Samuel did. Sometimes it will take the prompting from someone else for you to realise it is God, which is why sharing with one another is so important. When Samuel heard God, and recognised that he was being called, he told God that he was ready to listen, ‘speak, for your servant is listening’.
1 Samuel 3 is a significant part of Samuel’s story. Samuel was the much sought after son of Hannah and Elkanah. Hannah had prayed (in chapter one) that if God would give her a son, then she would give the son back to God for all We often pray, asking God the days of his life. In time for things and thanking she became pregnant and Him for things with the when Samuel was three assumption that He will “I wonder how many times God has called us, has years old he was weaned hear us, listen and spoken to us, and we’ve not recognised that it’s and she took him to the respond. Therefore, it is Him. How often have we been aware of God’s temple to dedicate him. He only right that we do this was dedicated to the Lord also. We need to make the prompting, and not realised it was Him?” in full; he lived within the time to allow God to speak Temple, his grew up to us. Perhaps not audibly learning the ways of the in the way that He spoke to Temple and was given responsibilities in the Temple; all under the Samuel, but consciously asking God to reveal Himself to us watchful eye of Eli the priest. Hannah stayed true to her word in through the things we see and hear. Not all of us will have giving Samuel back to God. Unlike Abraham and Isaac, God did not good hearing, so you’ll be pleased to know that it is not just give the care of Samuel back to her, but instead he was brought up through speech and sound that God speaks to us. But God will reveal Himself to us in ways that are meaningful to us. by Eli with regular visits from his parents. For some it may be in pictures or dreams, for others through In chapter 3 Samuel is probably about 12 years old. He was living in conversations, for others it may be through reading and for the Temple and in the middle of the night wakes up to his name being others, music. called. He heard God talking to him, but assumed it was Eli. Samuel goes and asks what he wants. Eli says ‘it wasn’t me – go back to The important thing is to tell God that you are ready to listen, sleep’. He went back to sleep and it happened again. And then a third and be aware of what God is doing around you. We do this time. It is not until the third time that Eli realises it is God, and tells through prayer, perhaps through uttering the words of Samuel what to do. Samuel heard God, but did not recognise that it Samuel ‘speak, your servant is listening’. Then it is was God. Samuel needed prompting to recognise God’s voice important to stay listening. It is easy to get distracted and we before he could listen to anything more that God had to say. mustn’t; I can be listening to someone, but hear my name
CASTLEGATE NEWS -ABERDEEN CITADEL SALVATION ARMY mentioned in another conversation at the hall, and suddenly find myself listening to them rather than the person in front of me. We are all distractible people, but must instil discipline in ourselves to listen to God, and keep listening. Significant decisions were made in my life following the prayer ‘speak, your servant is listening’, and on a regular basis I pray this prayer. We should not expect to only hear God’s voice audibly. By saying ‘I’m ready to learn what you want to tell me, or show me, or want from me’, we then need to wait and allow God to prompt you. It is easy to keep ourselves busy and occupied when we don’t really want to give time to listen. Don’t be too busy doing things that you don’t make time to pay attention to what God is telling you and showing you and asking of you. Once God has Samuel’s attention, once He knows that Samuel is ready to listen, he gives him a clear message to give to Eli (vv.11-14). Samuel heard God, then he listened to God, but now he has to make up his mind how to respond. It must have been frightening to be the bearer of bad news, especially at the age of 12 and to someone who was near-enough family. God had found Eli’s family guilty of contempt. There was provision made for the priests and Levites to be provided food in the context of sacrifice to God.
PAGE | 4 However, in chapter 2, Eli’s family of priests were taking the sacrifices that the people had made for themselves; before it had even been offered to God. Eli knew and had told them to stop, but because they continued and he did nothing more, God saw fit to punish them Himself. Samuel can respond in one of two ways. He can pretend that he wasn’t listening and so not do it. Or he can do as God has asked and tell Eli what God said. For all of us, God speaks, and when we hear we choose whether to listen and then respond. It might be to say ‘No, I’m not doing that’ or it might be ‘I will do as you ask’. We need to be people of courage and ask God for more strength and boldness to follow through on whatever He is asking of us. Be it adherency, soldiership, officership, to start an activity, to visit someone or to break a habit, God will not ask us to do something and then abandon us. In fact, if we hear God call, listen to what He says and then ignore it, He will just keep on calling and repeating the same message. What God says to us, He means. God is speaking all the time, but how often do we stop and listen?
Song 329 Song 775 Master, speak: Thy servant heareth, Waiting for Thy gracious word, Longing for Thy voice that cheereth; Master, let it now be heard. I am listening, Lord, for Thee; What hast Thou to say to me? Speak to me by name, O Master, Let me know it is to me. Speak, that I may follow faster, With a step more firm and free, Where the shepherd leads the flock In the shadow of the rock. Master, speak: though least and lowest, Let me not unheard depart. Master, speak! for O Thou knowest All the yearning of my heart, Knowest all its truest need; Speak! and make me blest indeed. Master, speak: and make me ready, When Thy voice is truly heard, With obedience glad and steady Still to follow every word. I am listening, Lord, for Thee; Master, speak: O speak to me! Frances Havergal Listen Here: https://youtu.be/SICEEZ_Qetc
Who is it tells me what to do And helps me to obey? Who is it plans the route for me And will not let me stray? Who is it tells me when to speak And what I ought to say? That's the Spirit! Holy Spirit! That's the Spirit of the Lord in me! That's the Spirit! Holy Spirit! That's the Spirit of the Lord in me! That's the Spirit! Holy Spirit! That's the Spirit of the Lord in me! Who is it gives me heavy loads And helps me take the strain? Who is it calls to sacrifice And helps me bear the pain? Who is it sees me when I fall And lifts me up again? That's the Spirit! Holy Spirit! That's the Spirit of the Lord in me! Who is it shows me what to be And leads me to that goal? Who is it claims the heart of me And wants to take control? Who is it calls to holiness Of body, mind and soul? That's the Spirit! Holy Spirit! That's the Spirit of the Lord in me! John Gowans Listen here: https://youtu.be/YPrl1U_0Rkk
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UPCOMING EVENTS Please remain aware that all upcoming events remain subject to change or cancellation at short notice owing to the ongoing Coronavirus situation. If there is sufficient notice, changes and cancellations will be announced in ‘Castlegate News’ and on Facebook.
Sunday 22nd November All Scotland Online Youth Councils
WHAT’S ON... SOME ONLINE RECOMMENATIONS Fortress Radio Sunday Services 11am and 6pm. Salvation Army music all through the week. “Take yourself back through a day of 'Army' activities and enjoy a day of music featuring Songster Brigades, Bands, YP Sections and much more. During the week, listen again to your favourite Army melodies including special broadcasts such as Songster Gems and Band Fest.”
If you know someone who would like to join in Youth Councils (via Zoom) then please get in touch and we can share the necessary details. Please pray for this event and all who attend.
Christmas Toy Appeal
Friday 25th December Christmas Day Meal There will be a meal available on Christmas Day for anyone who would usually come, but the difference this year is that it will be delivered on Christmas Day morning to their home. The meal will be cooked, but will need to be re-heated. If you or someone you know would like to receive a meal on Christmas Day, please phone the Citadel so we can get the details required to enable this to happen.
Available at: https://youtu.be/LCrbe9DaF-8
“Whatever our circumstances, we’re invited to do what we can to help each other through these challenging times.” Commissioner Gill Cotterill reminds us that the call to love each other is one of the most important things we can do.
Gowans & Larsson in Concert We revisited this concert on YouTube again this week and found it once again to be a blessing as well as a good laugh. Gowans and Larsson talk through some of the stories that brought about the Army musicals they wrote interspersed with lots of opportunities to sing along to some of the songs they wrote for the musicals. Personally, I am always moved by the way in which General Gowan’s recites the Vachel Lindsay poem ‘General William Booth Enters Into Heaven’ as he does here.
Available at: https://youtu.be/55yH5D1l8WU
All God’s Creatures Sing If the chief end of man is to glorify God, then this recording sets out to do just that. The songs are songs of praise and thanksgiving for the work of God in creation and in the sustaining of all that He has made. The songs are also songs which tell of the overwhelming love of God for us all.
Of course we cannot do this without drivers. If you drive and are willing to give some time to brighten someone’s Christmas Day morning, please phone the Citadel so we can add you to the list of available drivers. Please keep all of our future events in your prayers, especially in these times of fragility in forward planning.
Available at: https://www.fortressradio.online/listennow.html
Territorial Leaders’ Message
15th November – 11th December
This year we are running the Toy Appeal as in previous years, with referrals being made to the Citadel for families who need some support to give their child a gift this Christmas. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be made at the Citadel during our current opening hours (Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 9-12am) or by appointment. The cut-off for donations is the 11th December, to allow for time to quarantine the donations before they are distributed the following week.
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Available at: https://www.regalzonophone.com/Albu ms/All-Gods-Creatures-Sing
In the final song the question is asked, ‘Was it for sins that I have done He suffered on the tree?’ The response is, ‘Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!’ and that love is for the listener as well as the singer.
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PRAYER MATTERS Thoughts for Prayer •
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Pray for the corps Christmas plans as they are starting to be put together and formed in keeping with the current restrictions. Please pray that we will be able to effectively reach people in the best way possible and that all involved will have the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Pray for Craig Munro who has had a number of personal circumstances to attend to and would appreciate our holding up before the Lord in prayer. Pray for the right solutions to be found to some challenges around the building project that we may be able to effectively repair what needs to be repaired in a manner that will prolong the hassle-free service of The Citadel. Please pray for our team of weekday volunteers as we restructure the weekday programme to better meet the need post lockdown and heading in to the Christmas and winter period.
Corps Prayer Diary –November 15th – 21st SUN 15 Catherine, Emmanuel Raison and family MON 16 Karen Randell TUE 17 Doris Rennie WED 18 Peter Renshaw THU 19 Austyn Robb, Liz Walker and family FRI 20 Margaret Robb SAT 21 Joanna Robertson Lord, I come to you today With a simple prayer to pray, In everything I do, Let my life, oh, Lord praise you. Elizabeth Goodine
ANNOUNCEMENTS Please contact callum.newton@salvationarmy.org.uk for any announcement submissions. All Terrain Podcast (Series Two) The All-Terrain Podcast is a monthly release from Youth and Children’s Ministries. In each episode a special guest will join our host for a hypothetical hike as they face four choices and answer four questions – How do we face change? How do we move through suffering? How do we receive joy? How do we mature in service? It’s a chance for them to reflect on their life so far and share wisdom from their own walk. The meander might be metaphorical but the guests and their reflections on life are very real and packed full of lessons for all of us. Series Two kicks off with The General as a special guest. Series One is still available to listen to too. It is available from iTunes, Spotify and Podbean. All can be access through the Salvation Army website at: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/youth-andchildren/youth-resources/all-terrain-podcast
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MUSIC BOX Bandmaster John Still Leonard Ballantine’s Festival Arrangement “Since Jesus” features the song of testimony “Since Jesus came into my heart” (SASB 907) along with three other testimony songs. The program note for the piece says 'Since Jesus' is an attempt to recreate an old-style testimony meeting. You will hear four gospel favourites played by various instruments. In their own unique way, each will add to the joyful story of what has happened since Jesus came into their heart. Also included are 'Love lifted me’ (SASB 853), 'Leaning on the everlasting arms’ (SASB 906), and 'Amazing Grace' (SASB 453).
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, Since Jesus came into my heart. I have light in my soul for which long I have sought, Since Jesus came into my heart. Since Jesus came into my heart, Since Jesus came into my heart, Floods of joy o’er my soul Like the sea billows roll, Since Jesus came into my heart. I have ceased from my wandering and going astray, Since Jesus came into my heart, And my sins which were many are all washed away, Since Jesus came into my heart. I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure, Since Jesus came into my heart, And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure, Since Jesus came into my heart. I shall go there to dwell in that city I know, Since Jesus came into my heart, I am happy, so happy, as onward I go, Since Jesus came into my heart.
Listen here: https://youtu.be/pmmrhnfq1BA
I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore; Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me; Now safe am I. Love lifted me, love lifted me, When no one but Christ could help, Love lifted me. What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
TOY APPEAL You can support the Toy Appeal this year in many different ways: • Make a donation yourself; be it a toy or the money to buy a toy. • Tell other people about the Toy Appeal. • Volunteer to put the parcels together (although please note that current restrictions mean we are limited to how many people we can have doing this at once).
• Pray for every aspect of the Toy Appeal; enough donations, safe and efficient distribution, blessings upon the families and the volunteers. As in previous years, if you would like to give some colouring books and pens to Santa, to distribute to the children in the hospital, we are happy to receive them at the Citadel. We will then arrange for Santa to come and collect them, socially distanced of course!
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